HOW WE BEGAN
Established with private funding, The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) began with the extensive collections of Atlanta-based CGR Advisors, a real estate advisory company, and David Golden, the president of CGR Advisors and co-founder of MOCA GA. The combined collection features more than 250 works by 110 Georgia artists and includes a variety of mediums -- paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, and installation pieces.
"This is the evolution of what we started 10 years ago," said MOCA GA co-founder Annette Cone-Skelton. "As an arts consultant then, I had a client (Mr. Golden) who believed in Georgia artists and wanted to build the finest collection possible. The collection grew and remained housed in a corporate environment, so the museum environment seemed like the next logical step."
When CGR Advisors decided to move to another location, the burgeoning collection needed a new space. "Although we considered giving or selling the collection to various groups, we also recognized the gap that existed in showcasing Georgia artists. So, there was a need," said Mr. Golden. "Then, Annette searched for a model for this kind of museum, and there was none quite like this whose focus was contemporary art from the state in which it is located."
"Georgia artists really need a place of their own," said Ms. Cone-Skelton. "It's so important to protect and to archive the history of this state because so much of it is getting lost. This collection already has preserved a great deal. And as an artist, it's important to have an institution that believes in what you are doing. It helps you do your best work."
Established with private funding, The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) began with the extensive collections of Atlanta-based CGR Advisors, a real estate advisory company, and David Golden, the president of CGR Advisors and co-founder of MOCA GA. The combined collection features more than 250 works by 110 Georgia artists and includes a variety of mediums -- paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, and installation pieces.
"This is the evolution of what we started 10 years ago," said MOCA GA co-founder Annette Cone-Skelton. "As an arts consultant then, I had a client (Mr. Golden) who believed in Georgia artists and wanted to build the finest collection possible. The collection grew and remained housed in a corporate environment, so the museum environment seemed like the next logical step."
When CGR Advisors decided to move to another location, the burgeoning collection needed a new space. "Although we considered giving or selling the collection to various groups, we also recognized the gap that existed in showcasing Georgia artists. So, there was a need," said Mr. Golden. "Then, Annette searched for a model for this kind of museum, and there was none quite like this whose focus was contemporary art from the state in which it is located."
"Georgia artists really need a place of their own," said Ms. Cone-Skelton. "It's so important to protect and to archive the history of this state because so much of it is getting lost. This collection already has preserved a great deal. And as an artist, it's important to have an institution that believes in what you are doing. It helps you do your best work."
*Information Provided From: http://www.mocaga.org/theMuseum/theMuseum.asp